Directory_and_Chronicle_1912 — Page 1753

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

THE EAST COAST OF SUMATRA

1441

The supremacy of the Dutch Government is based upon political treaties with each of the Princes, in whose hands is left the jurisdiction over their own subjects except so far as relates in the infliction of the death penalty and banishment and the disposal of land or landed property. Land contracts with Europeans, while made between the ruling prince and the concessionaire, are subject to the approval of the Resident. Mining contracts require the approval of the Governor-General of the Netherland-Indies In all the States the Dutch Government has bought the right to collect the customs duties and the ordinary revenues. Landrevenue, collected by Government officials, is at the disposal of the native rulers and his chiefs. The principal State on the East-Coast of Sumatra, both from the rank of its ruler and historically, is Siak. The best known of the States, however, is Deli, where tobacco planting was first introduced, and by which name the whole of the East Coast is sometimes designated. Deli, Langkat, Serdang Assahan, and other tobacco-growing districts, are celebrated throughout the world for their fine silky tobacco leaf, which is specially fitted for the outside wrappers of cigars, being at once light in weight and elastic and strong in texture. The leading tobacco company is the Deli Maatschappij, which for 26 years has paid a dividend averaging 75 per cent, per annum. The minor agricultural products are Liberian coffee, cocoa-nuts, pepper and rubber. Jungle produce, formerly exported considerably, is getting scarcer, by reason of the jungle being felled for the purpose of planting tobacco and rubber. Very important also is the export of fish from Bagan Si Api Api-the second fish export harbour of the world to Singapore and Java. In 1910 was exported from that place 18,236,729 K. G. fish, and 11,186,627 K. G. shrimps, trasi, etc. Considerable also is the export of timber from the islands near Bengkalis to Singapore. About 3,000 coolies are employed in this trade, The production of paddy, though considerable, falls short of the demand by many thousand bags, which are mostly imported from the Straits Settlements. Kerosene oil is exported from Langkat to the Straits Settlements, British India. Hongkong, Siam and China. This article is of importance for that district, and is still more promising for the future. Almost all necessaries of life have to be imported, and a brisk trade between Java, the Straits Settlements and the East Coast is the consequence. Medan (Deli), the residence of the highest civiland military officials, is a pleasant little town, laid out in modern style, and the streets fitted up with electric light. A splendid architectural Government House has been built for the Resident in the new quarter of Polonia. Inthe town three banking corporations-the Javabank, the Nederlandsche Handel Maatschappij and the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China-have their branches. There are two very good Hotels, a Club, a Race-club, numerous houses of business, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Malay, Bombay and Kling shops, etc. The port of Belawan Deli, on the Belawan River, is in communication with Medan by railway, the lines of which extend a long distance up country and the North giving also communication via Tandjoeng Poera with Pangkalan Brandan. Other important ports are those of Pangkalan Brandan,Tandjong Balei,Bengkalis, Bagan Api Api and Siak. The population of this Residency amounted in 1905 to 2,667 Europeans, 99,236 Chinese, 89 Arabs, 15,487 other Orientals, and 450,940 natives; total 568,416.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1912 — Page 1753

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